Tuesday, 6 September 2016

The Association of Pharmaceutical Specials Manufacturers,
APSM, has broadened its membership criteria to include importers as well as virtual
Specials manufacturing organisations who own the rights to, and act as the
first supplier of, a Specials medicine in the UK.

Originally founded to
represent the interests of holders of a Specials Manufacturing Licence, the
APSM has an important role liaising with the DH and key policy makers as well as inputting into decisions around new
legislation and Specials guidance.

The decision to broaden membership to the wider supply chain reflects
the changing shape of the Specials market, particularly over the last 5 years following
the introduction of the Specials Tariff alongside a developing regulatory
framework and professional guidance around Specials. Influencing and responding to issues in this
changing market has also become a more important role for the APSM.

APSM Chair, Sharon Griffiths, said, “The decisions and actions we take
now have implications for the entire supply chain and we need to give other
organisations who have an interest in this market an opportunity to contribute
to those decisions.”

Our ultimate goal is to maintain a sustainable Specials sector
that provides high quality, safe medicines to patients – we’re looking forward
to working with more organisations who share this vision.

Monday, 1 August 2016

The APSM has launched our new website which is the definitive source of information about Specials in the UK. In addition to updated content about the role of Specials in the patient journey, there is detailed information about the regulatory framework for prescribing Specials and up-to-date market stats about the cost of Specials in the UK.

Designed for anyone involved in prescribing or dispensing Specials, the website contains lots of useful tools to support clinical understanding and decisions around the use of unlicensed medicines. There are also links to useful resources such as professional guidance and the Drug Tariff.

Says the APSM, the website is designed to promote the important role of Specials Manufacturers in helping to meet this important area of patient clinical need with high quality advice and product information.